Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Lately I've been getting into lace work and branching out in my interests as far as patterns are concerned, so I was excited when a friend asked if I would mind making a few miniature knit/crochet wool longies for a good cause. Yarn, miniatures, and gifts for a friend... how could I resist? Am I not simply human? She gave me a link to a pattern for the knit longies which is super simple, fun, and cute as could be. The pattern is called Bitty Britches from Sweet Mama-Small Sugar.I whipped out 4 pair in two days, the biggest being 3 inches or so tall. (lol, speed demon am I with needles)

In order of creation...

Unknown type of 100% wool in "forest green and brick red"

Lamb's Pride worsted in Flannel

Lamb's Pride worsted in Hot Pink and Flannel

Last of the Bitty Britches pattern was a grey Icelandic wool with pink angora and Cascade 220 in heathered green. I love this one.

Then I experimented a little with a few crochet minis. Those went a lot faster, all of them in about 6 hours total. The green soaker is a knit body with crocheted legs, but the rest are crochet. The patterns... meh, whatever struck my fancy at the moment.

Monday, July 13, 2009

The Paradise skirt is underway again and about 6 inches long now. I'm not sure I'll have enough cotton so I may have to use another color for the top. Cross your fingers I don't because I don't think I have anything that would coordinate well with that salmon cotton.

While Mike watched the kids in the van, I took my oldest into a thrift store with me and cruised the sweaters. Being the time of year it is the trip was short because a)it was too hot for the guy to stay alive in the van for long and b) sweaters are big sellers in July. I picked up 4 potential yarn garments as I searched but on a closer secondary examination, I really hated on of them, another was WAY overpriced, and the third was silk, but was stiff and a little abrasive. Not to mention it was apple red. Not many people want something crocheted from apple red silk, know what I mean? So those three didn't make the cut and the son that came in shopping with me got the delightful chore of putting them back. Because I am .. well... ME, he had to put them back where I got them from and I am sure it's left him with a special hatred of shopping with Mom.

BUT the sweater I brought home was well worth it, especially since it was a half price item. Hooray! It was a total of $2.49, 97% rabbit angora with 3% nylon and it is the softest, squishiest, most touchable yarn ever. I petted it all the way home. More while I was ripping the seams. And even more so while winding it into a hank to wash. Being a lace weight, it was a $@^*! to unravel ad I created at least 10 knots that weren't necessary before I tugged that one last bit. Tonight I washed and dried it and it's sitting on a fan in the open window of the office upstairs to banish the last of the moisture.

I've already made it into a head scarf for a friend. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that I'm nuts to make a wool headscarf for someone in the summer. But it's light weight and soooooo soft and squishy, it's not bad at all. No pick of the scarf yet, but here is a pic of the yarn. Forgive the dark picture, it was 11 pm.

Monday, July 6, 2009

I've been busy with a special project and my poor skirt isn't even one stitch closer to done. BUT, I got to play with my new sewing machine for a few days and then I unraveled the softest, fuzziest, comfliest angora sweater. Good times. Will update with pics when there is a change in status!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Ahem, sorry. I haven't worked with pineapples much and when I did it was long ago. The pattern started out a little on the rocky side because of it, but the pattern is really clear and well written so I muddled my way through and behold! the pattern got easier and even *gasp* memorized. The pattern ranges from petite to plus size which I loved, of course. It's made in a thread, but it could be made with something slightly thicker if so desired. Ankle length doesn't appeal to me much, but since it's worked from the hem up, it can be shortened to your required length simply by starting the decreases sooner than later. I think this is gonna be a bunch of fun now that I'm past the hard part. Wish me luck and check back for updates soon!